Fender for motor-cars and the like.



, 1. CLOSEL FENDER FOR MQIOR CARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, \9l3- 1,200,169. Pafientfid Oct. 3,1916.

0% am. .w 'm 4 M A ORNEY JAMES CLOSE, OF NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY.

FENDER FOR MOTOR-CARS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 3, E9145.

Application filed September 1913. Serial No. 788,206.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES CLosn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of-Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fenders for Motor- Cars and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fenders or bumpers particularly adapted to be applied to motor cars to protect the front or rear of the car from damage by collision. These the projecting end of the spring-hanger.

This is further objectionable, for the reason that a sharp shock transmitted to this bolt through the bumper is likely to shear off the bolt and release the spring from the hanger, thus dropping the chassis of the car with a violent shock upon the front or rear axle as the case may be, and causing a serious dc rangement of the entire mechanism of the machine.

My invention is directed to certain improvements in the construction of the bumper itself and also in the means for at-' taching'the same tothe spring-hanger in such a manner that the maximum of adjustability is afforded without in any way weakening the member to which the bracketcarrying bumper bar is secured. As no holes need be-drilled in the frame of the car, the only tool required in applying the bumper to a car is a wrench.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved bumper. attached to the spring-hanger of a motor car; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the method of attaching the bracket to the frame of the carer springhanger, and also illustrating the adjustable feature of my de-- vice; Fig. i is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Fig.

5 is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating.

the method of attaching the bumper-bar to 1ts bracket, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sect onal view of one of the brackets and a portion of the bumper'bar.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate the spring-hangers of a motor car or the like, to which are respectively secured the semi-elliptic springs 3 and 4. The numeral 5 designates a tender or bumper-bar, preferably having a channel SGCtlOIl; comprising the web or base.6 and the flanges 7, theends of the bumper preferably being curved inwardly toward the machine as shown. Surrounding thebar are two straps 8 and 9, which prevent vertical movement of the bar but which are longer in horizontal dimension than the width of the flanges of the channel. These straps terminate in hollow barrels l0 and 11, which are slidably mounted upon two angular bracket members,'12 and 13, respectively. To the end of each bracket which is received within the barrel members is attached a leaf-spring 14 by means of a stud-bolt 15.

against the outer portions of the straps, that is, the portions remote from the barrel members. It will be observed, however, that there is nothing except the resiliency of the springs to prevent the movement of the fender or bumper-bar in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, to such an extent that the web of the channel meets the head ofthe bolt 15.

The down-turned portions of the brackets 12 and 13 are clamped to the spring-hangers by means of pairs of similar plates 16, which are slotted to receive the bolts 1?, which may be surrounded by barrel members'18. The down-turned portions of the brackets 12 and 13 are flattened at 19 and 20, respectively, so that they may be firmly clamped. against the fiat sides of the, spring-hangers l and 2, when the nuts on the bolts 17 are tightened. The slots which receive the bolts are parallel and substantially vertical, to provide for the application of the device to spring-hangers of varying widths in a vertical direction.

Fig, 3 indicates the manner in which the device is adjustable in order to alter. the height at which the fender bar may be placedon cars of varying design, to afford the maiiimum protection to the lamps, radiator, and other vulnerable parts found at the front or rear of the-machine. Owing to the provision of the long slots in the plates 16, the position of plates, brackets and bumperbar may be readily adjusted so] as to be nearer to or farther from the car body in a horizontal dlrection, as clrcumstances may requlre.

When the bumper-bar collides with an-' other body, the springs 14 will yield, permitting the bar to travel toward the car for 'a short distance, as the barrels 10 and 11 slide longitudinally along the bracket members 12 and 13. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 6. 'This travel is frequently sufficient to take up the shock of a slight collision, but in case it is not, the web of the channel will finally come to rest, abutting firmly against the heads of the bolts 15 and thus transmitting the shock direct to the chassis through the spring-hangers, without affecting the means which secure the springs to the hangers. The strain incident upon a severe collision is therefore transmitted direct to the frame-work of the 'car, which is best able to stand the shock.

In the case of a glancing blow upon either end'of the bar, the spring nearest to that end will yield in a manner similar to that already described, and the added angularity given to the end of the bar by virtue of this yielding action, is of aid in causing the object encountered to be forcedsidewise past the car, instead of coming to rest solidly against the fender.

l/Vhile -I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of my device, I realize that it is susceptible of wide modification, and I do not desire to be limited to the precise structure shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I

claimzv 1. In a fender, abufler-bar, a support relatively fixedlwith respect thereto, means for movably mounting said bar upon said support and a leaf-spring centrally mounted upon said support and having a sliding engagement at each end with said bar to force the same away from the support.

2. In a fender, a butler-bar, a support I relatively fixed with respect thereto, means formovably mounting said bar upon said support and a leaf-spring centrally mounted upon said support and having a sliding engagement at each end with said bar to force the same away from the support, the

ends of said spring being otherwise disconnected from said bar.

3. In a fender'achannel buffer-bar, a support relatively fixed with respect thereto,

means for mounting said bar upon said support, including a member slidably mounted upon sald support, and a member for retaining said bar, and a spring atlixedto the end bar, and a spring mounted within said strap,.

engaging said support and said bar.

6. In a fender a buffer-bar, a support relatively fixed with respect thereto, means for mounting said bar upon. said support, including a member slidably mounted upon said support, and a strap encircling said 'bar, and a leaf-spring mounted within said strap and having its ends engaging said bar and forcing the same against said strap, the fixed portion. of the spring engaging said sliding member to form a stop therefor.

7. In 'a fender a buffer-bar, a support relatively fixed with respect thereto, means for mounting said bar upon said support, including a member slidably mounted upon said support, and a strap encircling said bar, and a leaf-spring secured to said support and forcing said bar against said strap and away from said support.

JAMES CLOSE.

,Witnesses ELLEN M. NIHILL, HARRY E. Fnnnis. 

